Rebates on the Way to Expiring – New York Times

The marketing tool forced customers through an onerous and usually confusing process of cutting out proof-of-purchase logos, Universal Product Code stripes or box-top flaps and mailing one of them along with receipts and an application to a post office box with nine numbers to obtain a discount — typically weeks or even months later.

Consumers did not like them and, it turns out, retailers and manufacturers ended up unhappy about them as well. In recent months, big chains like Best Buy and OfficeMax have announced their demise. Best Buy said that it had eliminated more than 65 percent of mail-in rebates, and by April they will be a relic. OfficeMax, the No. 3 office supplies store, made a clean sweep of them this summer. Internet rebates are also disappearing.

The end of mail-in rebates might seem like a defeat for the bargain-hunting consumer. That is true, for the conscientious rebate seeker at least. The power of the Internet may, however, offer some solutions to finding low prices.

The end of mail-in rebates might seem like a defeat for the bargain-hunting consumer. That is true, for the conscientious rebate seeker at least. The power of the Internet may, however, offer some solutions to finding low prices.